This pool noodle garland  is not a preschool craft , but younger children could easily thread the ribbon through the middle of the flower instead !  Either way this frugal craft is a great way to decorate for spring for only $3 which is exactly what I spent on the materials. Hope your Friday is frugal and fun!

1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 or more colors of pool noodles ( check to see what shape the are on the ends), some ribbon, a bread knife and scissors. I also used a dry paint brush as a “needle”.
2. Start by slicing your noodle into sections with your bread knife.
3. Cut your ribbon to the length you want and make a large knot.
4. Next using sharp scissors make a hole through one of the petals.
5. Push your ribbon through the hole – using the end of a paintbrush, or chopstick.
6. Alter colors to make a pattern.
7. Pin up and enjoy flowers inside for as long as you want!

Book

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart Is a really touching book that I would happily recommend for school age children. It’s a beautiful story about a little girl during the depression who is shipped to the city to work in her uncle’s bakery because both her parents are out of work.  She is obviously nervous but knows that it’s something she has to do.  She takes a little of the country with her in seed packets which she plants in the city while she learns about baking and becomes friends with her uncles employees. This is more a story about making the most of hard times, and would be a great way to talk about the great depression with your child. There are so many little things in the illustrations by David Small to talk about , from a picture of FDR to traveling by train and  the general sense of sadness .  In the end it’s a warm hearted book that I can’t wait to share with my son in a few years.